Disposable brush

ABSTRACT

A disposable brush which is formed of a non-woven fabric or of a pulp of molding. The disposable brush includes a base and a number of projections formed on a first side of the base by allowing portions of the base to project therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a highly practical and inexpensivedisposable brush which can be produced easily.

2. Discussion of the Background

Various types of brushes made of paper or fiber have been proposed(Japanese Utility Model Lad-Open Nos. 66367/94 and 36906/92, JapanesePatent Laid-Open No. 135728/97, and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.69910/87).

The brush described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 66367/94 hasbristles coated with fiber and is relatively difficult to produce. Thebrush disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 36906/92comprises bristles made of a nonwoven fabric of ultrafine fibers andother parts made of other materials, which is structurally complicatedand relatively expensive. These brushes are not disposable. The brushdescribed in Utility Model Laid-Open No. 69910/87 is a paper-madedisposable brush but of low practical use due to insufficient strength.

These brushes have no considerations for water absorption while used. Anexample known as a brush having water absorption is one made of pulpwhich is prepared by punching out from paperboard. However, being a combrather than a brush, this has a smaller contact area with an object tobe brushed than a brush having a number of projections (bristles) on aplane and is inferior in brushing performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a highlypractical and inexpensive disposable brush which can be produced easily.

Another object of the invention is to provide a disposable brush whichhas excellent brushing performance and high water absorptionirrespective of an object of brushing.

The present invention accomplished the above objects by providing adisposable brush formed of a nonwoven fabric or of a pulp molding whichcomprises a base and a number of projections formed on one side of thebase by allowing portions of the base to project.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of theattendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of thedisposable brush according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a part of the projections of thedisposable brush according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a way of using the disposablebrush according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plane view illustrating a surface of a second embodiment ofthe disposable brush according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the way of using thedisposable brush shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a plane view of another example of the second embodiment(corresponding to FIG. 4).

FIG. 7 is a plane view of still another example of the second embodiment(corresponding to FIG. 4).

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of thedisposable brush according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 8, ofthe disposable brush according to the third embodiment after use.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating another way of using thedisposable brush according to the present invention (corresponding toFIG. 3).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the disposable brush according to thepresent invention will be described by referring to the drawings. FIG. 1is a perspective view showing the disposable brush according to thefirst embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing a part of theprojections of the disposable brush according to the first embodiment.FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a way of using the disposablebrush according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the disposable brush 1 according to this embodimentis formed of a single piece of a nonwoven fabric or of a pulp moldingand comprises a base 11 having on its side 1 s a number of projections12 which are formed by allowing portions of the base 11 to project.

The base 11 has, in its plane view, a rounded rectangular shape with thecenter of each longer side extending outward to form a nearlysemicircular flap 14. The surface 1 s of the base 11 has a leveldifference 16 on the boundary between each flat 14 and the projections12 in parallel to the longer sides so that the flaps 14 may easily befolded toward the reverse side of the surface 1 s.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of rows of equally spaced projections 12are formed on the surface 1 s in the longitudinal direction of the base11 by allowing portions of the base 11 to project. The rows are arrangedin such a manner that the projections 12 may not adjoin each other inthe width direction of the base 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the projections12 has a mountain shape of a size. Where the brush 1 is made of anonwoven fabric, the projections 12 are hollow. When it is made of apulp molding, the projections 12 are solid.

The nonwoven fabric forming the brush 1 includes spun lace nonwoven,spun bond nonwoven, suction nonwoven, heat bond nonwoven, melt blownnonwoven, and needle punch nonwoven. The nonwoven fabric preferably hasa basis weight of 50 to 500 g/m², particularly 200 to 300 g/m².

Fibers making up the nonwoven fabric include a fiber of polyethylene(PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyamide(PA), mixed fibers comprising two or more of these fibers, and conjugatefibers having a core/sheath structure, a side-by-side structure, etc.made of these fibers. Conjugate fibers having a core/sheath structurearc preferred from the viewpoint of projection formability and highbulkiness. In order to provide the projections with proper compressivestrength, the fibers making up the nonwoven fabric preferably have afineness of 1 to 100 denier.

Pulp used for a pulp molding which forms the brush 1 includes single ormixed natural fibers of softwood, hardwood, grass, rice plants, reeds,and so forth. To impart moderate strength to the brush, the fiberspreferably have a length of 0.2 to 40 mm. Pulp products circulating onthe general market, including pulp sheets such as paperboards andregenerated paper, and pulp blocks, can be reused.

The pulp molding is obtained by molding a raw material compositionmainly comprising pulp through prescribed means. In order for the rawmaterial composition to be shaped, it usually contains an adhesive, etc.for fiber fixing.

The adhesive to be used includes natural adhesives such as starch andsynthetic resin adhesives such as a vinyl acetate resin. The adhesive isapplied in a usual manner by, for example, adding directly to the pulpslurry or by dipping a brush in an adhesive solution. The adhesive ispreferably used in an amount of 2% by weight or less, particularly 1% byweight or less, based on the solid content of the pulp slurry.

In order to improve the strength of the brush, it is preferred to use,as a pulp material, a mixture of the above-described natural fibers andan appropriate amount of synthetic fibers (binder fibers) such aspolyethylene fiber. In this case, the binder fiber is preferably onecapable of developing thermal fusion (adhesion) in a drying and pressingstep customarily conducted in pulp molding. In using, for example,polyethylene fiber as a binder fiber, it is preferably used in an amountof 10 to 70% by weight, particularly 30 to 50% by weight, based on thedry weight of the brush 1 according to the present embodiment. Otheradditives can be used appropriately according to the use of, orperformance properties required of, the brush.

As shown in FIG. 3, the disposable brush 1 of this embodiment has itsflaps 14 connected to each other via Magic Tape (registered trade mark)2, etc. so that a user can use it as fixed to a hand to stroke hair h ofan animal or of a carpet, etc. The Magic Tape 2 may have its end fixedto only one of the flaps 14.

The above-described disposable brush 1 can be impregnated with variousliquid medicines or chemicals for brushing. The disposable brush 1impregnated with a liquid medicine will apply the liquid medicine to theskin, hair or hair bulbs to produce various effects according to thekind of the medicine. The applicable medicines include hair growers,hair dyes, bactericides, deodorants, shampoos, and the like.

Where the projections of the disposable brush 1 are hallow, the hollowsmay be filled with a separate member to improve the compressive theprojections 12.

In the disposable brush 1 of the present embodiment, it is preferred forthe projections 12 to have a maximum compression load of 1 N or more,particularly 3 to 15 N, against compression from the top 13 toward thefoot 15. Having a maximum compression load of 1 N or more, theprojections 12 are prevented from deforming during brushing so that thefeel of the projections 12's reaching the skin is not impaired. The“deformation of the projections” herein referred to means that theprojections are collapsed during use of the brush, hardly restoringtheir original shape elastically, and the “feel of the projections'reaching the skin” herein referred to means that the projections arefelt to touch the skin to give a moderate massage when used for, forexample, brushing the hair of the head.

The maximum compression load was measured according to the followingmethod. Tensilon RTM25 manufactured by Orientec K.K. was used. Aload-strain curve was obtained by using a load cell (maximum load: 50 N)under a compression condition of 100 mm/min in head speed The first peakto occur after the commencement of the measurement was taken as themaximum compression load of the projection (the maximum load theprojection can withstand). The measurements made on 10 individualprojections (n=10) were averaged.

To give the feel of hair's being groomed, to make the liquid medicinereach the roots of hairs or the skin, and to secure the strength, it ispreferred for the projections 12 to have a height H of 3 to 50 mm,particularly 3 to 30 mm, especially 5 to 20 mm, most preferably 10 to 20mm. The language “the feel of hair's being groomed” means the feel ofhair's being groomed with moderate resistance by brushing.

It is preferred for the projections 12 to have their top 13 rounded witha curvature radius R of 0.5 to 2.5 mm, particularly 1 to 1.5 mm. Withthe curvature radius R falling within the above range, there is no fearthat brushing may cause pain to the skin or the projections may haveinsufficient strength. The above preferred curvature radius is alsopreferred for obtaining the feel of the projections' reaching the skinand for making the liquid medicine reach the roots of hairs or the skin.

From the standpoint of rigidity and the feel of the hair's beinggroomed, the projections 12 preferably have a diameter D, at their foot15, of from 3 to 20 mm, particularly 5 to 15 mm, especially 7 to 12 mm.

The projections 12 are preferably formed at a density of 2 to 40,particularly 3 to 20, per 10 cm² on the surface 1s. The pitch P of theprojections 12 will be defined necessarily by the size and density ofthe projections 12 and preferably ranges 5 to 22 mm, particularly 10 to18 mm. The above-described preferred density of the projections 12 isfavored for the feel of hair's being brushed, for the liquid medicine toreach the roots of hairs and the skin, and for forming the projectionsto a prescribed height.

Since the disposable brush 1 according to this embodiment is formed of anonwoven fabric or of a pulp molding, it is easy to manufacture andinexpensive. Being disposal, it is hygienic. Where in particular thebrush 1 is formed of a pulp molding, it has high water absorption.

Even though the projections 12 are made of a nonwoven fabric or of apulp molding, the disposable brush 1 of this embodiment keeps sufficientstrength and secures a sufficient contact area with an object ofbrushing to carry out efficient brushing.

Formed of a nonwoven fabric or of a pulp molding, the disposable brush 1of the present embodiment is suitable to brush or groom furry animalssuch as dogs and cats, the hair of the head, carpets, and furs.

The brush 1 of the present embodiment can have the projections designedto have an arbitrary height in accordance with the use. Therefore, itperforms excellent brushing function for not only general objects ofbrushing, such as the hair of the head and furs, but objects coveredwith thick fur, such as certain kinds of dogs and cats.

The disposable brush of this embodiment can be produced by, for example,the following method.

In case where the brush 1 is formed of a nonwoven fabric, fibers are cutand carded into a web by a carding machine, and the web is passedthrough heat rolls to make a nonwoven fabric.

The resulting nonwoven fabric is slit to an appropriate width andpressed between male and female molds to form a plurality of projections12 and level differences 16 for each disposable brush. The pressing ispreferably carried out at a mold temperature of 120 to 200° C. under apressing pressure of 0.5 to 20 kgf/cm² for a pressing time of 3 to 15seconds.

The thus pressed nonwoven fabric is cut to the shape of the base 11 soas to have the projections 12 and the level differences 16 as positionedin accordance with the plane view of the present embodiment to obtainthe disposable brush 1 of the present embodiment.

Where the brush 1 is formed of a pulp molding, brush 1 is preferablyproduced by a pulp molding method. A pulp sheet as a raw material, suchas a paperboard, is dissolved in water to make a slurry. The slurry canbe used as such but is preferably beaten to provide a brush withmoderate strength. The beaten pulp preferably has a freeness of 300 to800 ml particularly 400 to 700 ml. Where an adhesive and the like areused, they are added to the slurry after beating.

The resulting slurry is poured into a paper mold shaped to the pulp-madebrush 1 of the present embodiment to form-a pulp layer, molding anddehydrating the pulp layer, and dry pressing the pulp molding betweenmale and female molds to obtain the brush 1 of the embodiment.

The second and the third embodiments of the disposable brush accordingto the present invention will be described by referring to FIGS. 4through 10. The same description as given to the first embodimentapplies appropriately to the matter not explained hereinafter. The samereference numerals as used in FIGS. 1 to 3 are used for the same membersin FIGS. 4 to 10.

The disposable brush 1 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 hasslits 21 cut in the, peripheral portion of the base 11 made of anonwoven fabric so that a user may hold the brush 1 by means of theslits 21.

The base 11 is rectangular, and the slits 21 are made in the peripheralportions 24 a and 24 b at the longitudinal ends of the base 11. Thus, inthe disposable brush 1 according to this embodiment, the projections 12are formed, leaving a margin on both ends, in the longitudinaldirection, of the base 11.

The slit 21 a in the peripheral portion 24 a on one end 25 a makes anarc along the shape of that end over almost the whole width of the base11, while the slit 21 b in the peripheral portion 24 b on the other end25 b also makes a similar arc but is shorter than the slit 21 a in theperipheral portion 24 a. It is preferable that the slit 21 be providedon both ends of the brush 1 in the above-described manner. The ratio ofthe length of one slit 21 a to the other slit 21 b is preferably in therange of from 1:0.4 to 0.8.

The disposable brush 1 according to this embodiment can be used like ageneral brush in the following manner. As shown in FIG. 5, the ends 25 aand 25 b, which are free bands by the slits 21 a and 21 b, are lifted upon the other side 1 s′ to make openings 22 a and 22 b. A user can slidea hand (fingers) from the side of the opening 22 a to hold the brush 1.The brush 1 is usable by either the right or the left hand or may beheld by a holding tool, etc. Handled in this manner, the brush 1 is easyto hold and use. In particular, where the brush 1 is made of a singlepiece of nonwoven fabric as in this embodiment, the ease of use isfurther improved.

The disposable brush 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 hastwo short slits on the end 25 b; the left-hand slit 21 b′ and theright-hand slit 21 b′. On use, fingers are slid through the slits 21 b′.

The disposable brush 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 has crossslits. In detail, slits 21 c, 21 d, and 21 e are cut in the peripheralportion 24 where no projections are formed. On use, fingers are slidthrough the slits 21 c, 21 d, and 21 e to hold and use the brush 1. Thebrush of this particular embodiment is for the right hand, and it isconvenient for a user to slide the thumb finger through the slit 21 c,the forefinger through the slit 21 d, and the third finger through theslit 21 e.

While the second embodiment described above has been illustrated withparticular reference to examples in which a slit is cut in both ends inthe longitudinal direction, the slit may be made on only one of the endsor on the periphery of the shorter sides. The material making the brushis not limited to a nonwoven fabric and may be pulp.

The disposable brush according to the third embodiment is made of anonwoven fabric. As shown in FIG. 8, it has a water-retaining member 32provided on the reverse side of the base 11. The outer surface of thewater-retaining member 32 is covered with a cover sheet 33. Thewater-retaining member 32 comprises pulp 41 and a water-absorbentpolymer 42. The pulp 41 is arranged in contact with the reverse side ofthe base 11, and the absorbent polymer 42 is disposed between the pulp41 and the cover sheet 33.

As shown in FIG. 8, the water-retaining member 32 is provided to fillthe inside of the projections 12, with its outer surface covered withthe cover sheet 33. The periphery of the cover sheet 33 is fixed to thereverse side of the flaps 14 with an adhesive, etc. The pulp 41constituting the water-retaining member 32 is arranged in contact withthe reverse side of the base 11, and the absorbent polymer 42 isprovided between the pulp 41 and the cover sheet 33.

The pulp 41, inclusive of the part filling the inside of the projections12, is preferably applied to the reverse side of the base 11 to have abasis weight of 0.02 to 0.6 g/cm², particularly 0.1 to 0.3 g/cm². Thepacking density of the pulp 41 is preferably in a range of 0.01 to 0.12g/cm³, particularly 0.05 to 0.6 g/cm³. The absorbent polymer 42 ispreferably applied to the inside of the cover sheet 33 to have a basisweight of 0.002 to 0.04 g/cm³, particularly 0.004 to 0.01 g/cm².

The water-retaining member 32 can be of pulp, absorbent polymers, clay,or a like material. In particular, materials employed in disposablediapers and sanitary napkins are useful as the pulp 41 and the absorbentpolymer 42 with no particular restrictions.

The cover sheet 33 is to cover and hold the water-retaining member 32provided in the hollows on the reverse side of the base 11. The coversheet 33 is preferably of PE, PP, polyvinyl chloride, etc.

The brush 1 according to this embodiment is produced by placing the base11 with its reverse side up, filing the hollows on the reverse side witha predetermined amount of the pulp 41, applying a prescribed amount ofthe absorbent polymer 42 thereon, covering the surface of the absorbentpolymer 42 with the cover sheet 33, and fixing the periphery of thecover sheet 33 to the back side of the flaps 14 of the brush 1 with anadhesive, etc.

The brush 1 according to this embodiment exerts the following actionsand effects while used. When, for example, wet hair of the head isbrushed with the brush 1 of the embodiment as held by hand with theprojections 12 touching the skin, the water quickly passes theprojections 12 and are absorbed by the pulp 41. The water contentabsorbed by the pulp 41 is then absorbed by the highly absorbent polymer42 disposed in contact with the pulp 41. As a result, the pulp 41restores water absorbing capacity and continues absorbing water throughthe projections 12. This action lasts until the water absorbing capacityof the absorbent polymer 42 approaches saturation. As the waterabsorption of the water-retaining member 32 increases, the absorbentpolymer 42 swells, and the brush 1 assumes the state shown in FIG. 9.Even in this state, since the water-retaining member 32 is covered andsupported by the cover sheet 33, the water-retaining member 32 havingabsorbed and retained water does not hinder the use of the brush 1.

Besides having the function of a brush, the brush 1 according to thisembodiment possesses not only water absorbing properties butslow-releasing properties, i.e., properties of gradually transferring awater content and the like held in the brush to a dry object. Therefore,the nonwoven fabric-made brush having the water-retaining member 32impregnated with various liquid medicines will be used effectively as askin care brush, a dry shampoo brush, a hair dyeing brush, a hairgrowing brush, a scalp care brush, and so on.

The kind and amount of the water-retaining member 32 used in thisembodiment are subject to appropriate alteration according to the use.By properly selecting the shape of the brush 1 and the kind andarrangement of the water-retaining member 32, the cover sheet 33 couldbe omitted, or the cover sheet 33 and the method of fixing it could bealtered appropriately.

The brush 1 of this embodiment exhibits high water absorption andslow-releasing properties in addition to the brushing function.Therefore, it is suited for use as a quick drying brush for pets such asdogs and cats, carpets, furs and for the hair of the head. Whereimpregnated with various liquid medicines, the brush achieves brushingwhile producing the effects of the liquid medicines applied.

The disposable brush according to the present invention is not limitedto the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can begiven thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

For example, the size of the base 11, which is designed to the size of ahuman's hand in the above embodiments, can be varied appropriatelyaccording to the use.

The projections 12, which are arranged on the surface 1 s of the base 11at regular intervals, may be arranged in various ways including a randomarrangement.

The projections 12, which are of the same shape and size, may besawtooth-shaped or pyramid-shaped as well as mountain-shaped and may beof different sizes.

Without the Magic Tape shown in FIG. 3, the brush 1 of theabove-described embodiments may be used as illustrated in FIG. 10. Thatis, a hand is applied to the reverse side of the base 11 in parallelwith the longer side, and the flaps 14 are folded to the reverse sidewith the thumb finger and the little finger attached to the surface side1 s of the flaps 14 each arranged in the center of the loner side.

The disposable brush of the present invention can be produced by methodsother than the above-mentioned one.

The aforementioned embodiments are interchangeable.

EXAMPLES

Examples of the disposable brush according to the present invention aresummarized in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Example 1 2 3 Maximum Compression Load (N) 10 15 5 Height ofProjections (mm) 10 20 10 Top Curvature Radius (mm) 1 1 1.5 Pitch ofProjections (mm) 16 16 22 Diameter of Projection 12 12 12 Foot (mm)Basis Weight of a Nonwoven 250 350 250 Fabric (g/m²) Evaluation Feel ofhair's being groomed B B C Feel of projections' reaching the skin A A BDeformation of projections during use A B B

All the brushes of Examples 1 to 3 were prepared by cutting a piece ofappropriate size from a nonwoven fabric made of core/sheath conjugatedfibers comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a core and apolyethylene terephthalate/polypropylene mixture as a sheath and formingthe cut piece between male and female molds at a mold temperature of 120to 200° C. under a pressing pressure of 0.5 to 20 kgf/cm² for a pressingtime of 3 to 15 seconds.

The evaluation of Examples in Table 1 was made as follows.

[Method of evaluating the feel of hair's being groomed, the feel of theprojections' reaching the; skin, and the deformation of the projectionsduring use]

Each of the disposable brushes of Examples 1 to 3 was used by 10 testusers to brush their hair and rated on the following basis: poor=1;rather poor=2; rather good=3; good=4. The points allotted to each brushwere added up and graded as follows: 4 to 12=C; 13 to 21=B; 22 to 30 ormore=A.

Another series of Examples of the disposable brush according to thepresent invention are shown in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Example 4 5 6 Maximum Compression Load (N) 4.2 8.3 10.7 TopCurvature Radius (mm) 1.5 1.5 2 Height of Projections (mm) 11 15 20Pitch of Projections (mm) 10 14 17 Diameter of Projection 4 7 10 Foot(mm) Density of Brush (g/m³) 0.1 0.12 0.15 Evaluation Feel of hair'sbeing groomed A A B Feel of projections' reaching the skin B A ADeformation of projections during use B B B

The brushes of Examples 4 to 6 were prepared by a pulp molding method asfollows. Pulp having a freeness of 450 ml was prepared from chemicalpulp as a pulp material. A polyamideamine epichlorohydrin resin wasadded as an adhesive to the pulp in a slurry form in an amount of 0.1%by weight based on the solid content of the pulp slurry. The resultingslurry was poured into a mold of the respective shape to form a pulplayer, molding and dehydrating the pulp layer, and dry pressing the pulpmolding between male and female molds at a mold temperature of 70 to120° C. under a pressing pressure of 2 to 10 kg/cm² for a pressing timeof 30 to 120 minutes.

The disposable brush according to the present invention is easy toproduce, inexpensive, hygienic, and of high practical use.

Having a number of projections with sufficient strength and height onits surface, the brush of the present invention is suitable for brushinganimals covered with fur, such as dogs and cats, the hair of the head,carpets, furs, and the like, and, in particular, suited to even thoseobjects covered with thick fur. The brush of the present inventionformed of a pulp molding has high water absorption and is thereforesuitable used as a quick drying brush. When impregnated with variousliquid medicines, the brush makes it possible to perform brushing whileproducing the effects of the medicines.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disposable brush formed of a nonwoven fabric orof a pulp molding which comprises a base and a number of projectionsformed on one side of said base by allowing portions of said base toproject, wherein said base is a sheet base and has a slit in theperipheral portion thereof so that said brush can be held by hand bymeans of said slit.
 2. This disposable brush as set forth in claim 1,wherein said base is rectangular and said slit is cut in the widthdirection of said base in the peripheral portion on each end of saidbase in the longitudinal direction thereof.
 3. The disposable brush asset forth in claim 1, wherein said slit is a cross slit and made inthree positions.
 4. A disposable brush formed of a nonwoven fabric or ofa pulp molding which comprises a base and a number of projections formedon one side of said base by allowing portions of said base to project,wherein a water-retaining member is provided on the reverse side of saidbase, and wherein said water-retaining member comprises pulp and awater-absorbent polymer, and the outer surface of said water-retainingmember is covered with a cover sheet.
 5. A brush, formed of at least oneof a non-woven fabric or a pulp molded product, comprising: a baseformed of a single layer; and a plurality of projections formed on asurface of the base, wherein the plurality of projections is formed fromportions of the base that protrude from the surface of the base, andwherein the base has a height toward a center portion that is greaterthan a height toward a peripheral portion, wherein the non-woven fabricincludes at least one of a spun lace non-woven, a spun bond non-woven, asuction non-woven, a heat bond non-woven, a melt blown non-woven, and aneedle punch non-woven.
 6. The brush according to claim 5, wherein eachof the plurality of projections is hollow.
 7. The brush according toclaim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of projections is filledwith a strengthening member.
 8. The brush according to claim 5, whereinthe non-woven fabric has a basis weight of approximately 50 g/m² toapproximately 500 g/m².
 9. The brush according to claim 5, wherein thenon-woven fabric includes at least one of a polyethylene, apolypropylene, a polyethylene terephthalate, and a polymide.
 10. Thebrush according to claim 9, wherein the non-woven fabric has a finenessof approximately 1 denier to approximately 100 denier.
 11. The brushaccording to claim 5, wherein the pulp molded product includes at leastone of a softwood, a hardwood, a grass, a rice plant, a reed, apaperboard, a regenerated paper, and a pulp block.
 12. The brushaccording to claim 11, wherein the pulp molded product includes fibershaving a length of approximately 0.2 mm to 40 mm.
 13. The brushaccording to claim 11, wherein the pulp molded product includes anadhesive.
 14. The brush according to claim 13, wherein the adhesiveincludes at least one of a starch and a synthetic resin.
 15. The brushaccording to claim 14, wherein the synthetic resin includes a vinylacetate resin.
 16. The brush according to claim 13, wherein the adhesiveis used in an amount of approximately 2% by weight, based on a solidcontent of a pulp slurry used to form the pulp molded product.
 17. Thebrush according to claim 5, wherein the pulp molded product includes abinder fiber.
 18. The brush according to claim 17, wherein the binderfiber includes a fiber capable of developing thermal fusion duringdrying and pressing of the pulp molded article.
 19. The brush accordingto claim 18, wherein the binder fiber includes a polyethylene fiber. 20.The brush according to claim 5, further comprising adjustable flaps onat least two sides of the base.
 21. The brush according to claim 5,wherein the base is impregnated with a chemical.
 22. The brush accordingto claim 21, wherein the chemical includes a medicine.
 23. The brushaccording to claim 5, wherein the shape of each of the plurality of theprotrusions includes a frustrum of a cone.
 24. The brush according toclaim 5, wherein the plurality of protrusions has a maximum compressionload of at least 1 N.
 25. The brush according to claim 5, wherein theplurality of protrusions are formed at a density between approximately 2and approximately 40 per 10 cm2 on the surface of the base.
 26. Thebrush according to claim 5, wherein a pitch of the plurality ofprojections is between approximately 5 mm and approximately 22 mm. 27.The disposable brush as set forth in claim 5, wherein a water-retainingmember is provided on the reverse side of said base.
 28. The disposablebrush as set forth in claim 27, wherein said water-retaining membercomprises pulp and a water-absorbent polymer, and an outer surface ofsaid water-retaining member is covered with a cover sheet.
 29. A brush,formed of at least one of a non-woven fabric or a pulp molded product,comprising: a base formed of a single layer; and a plurality ofprojections formed on a surface of the base, wherein the plurality ofprojections is formed from portions of the base that protrude from thesurface of the base, and wherein the base has a height toward a centerportion that is greater than a height toward a peripheral portion,wherein the non-woven fabric has a basis weight of approximately 50 g/m²to approximately 500 g/m².
 30. A brush, formed of at least one of anon-woven fabric or a pulp molded product, comprising: a base formed ofa single layer; and a plurality of projections formed on a surface ofthe base, wherein the plurality of projections is formed from portionsof the base that protrude from the surface of the base, wherein the basehas a height toward a center portion that is greater than a heighttoward a peripheral portion, and wherein the non-woven fabric includesat least one of a polyethylene, a polypropylene, a polyethyleneterephthalate, and a polymide.
 31. The brush according to claim 30,wherein the non-woven fabric has a fineness of approximately 1 denier toapproximately 100 denier.
 32. A brush, formed of at least one of anon-woven fabric or a pulp molded product, comprising: a base formed ofa single layer; and a plurality of projections formed on a surface ofthe base, wherein the plurality of projections is formed from portionsof the base that protrude from the surface of the base, wherein the basehas a height toward a center portion that is greater than a heighttoward a peripheral portion, wherein the pulp molded product includes atleast one of a softwood, a hardwood, a grass, a rice plant, a reed, apaperboard, a regenerated paper, and a pulp block, wherein the pulpmolded product includes fibers having a length of approximately 0.2 mmto 40 mm, wherein the pulp molded product includes an adhesive, andwherein the adhesive includes at least one of a starch and a syntheticresin.
 33. The brush according to claim 32, wherein the synthetic resinincludes a vinyl acetate resin.
 34. A brush, formed of at least one of anon-woven fabric or a pulp molded product, comprising: a base formed ofa single layer; and a plurality of projections formed on a surface ofthe base, wherein the plurality of projections is formed from portionsof the base that protrude from the surface of the base, wherein the basehas a height toward a center portion that is greater than a heighttoward a peripheral portion, wherein the pulp molded product includes abinder fiber, wherein the binder fiber includes a fiber capable ofdeveloping thermal fusion during drying and pressing of the pulp moldedarticle, and wherein the binder fiber includes a polyethylene fiber.